Net Force - Tom Clancy [103]
The hotel security cams shoot three frames a second, so if we let it run, it looks pretty jerky, but weve got six or eight real good images of the woman.
She doesnt look anything like the old lady, Michaels said. And whats to say shes not wearing a disguise here?
Our guys in ID say she probably is disguised-the size of her neck and wrists, the thinness of her face and hands dont really go with the weight of her torso and hips. Probably shes padded.
So how does this help us?
Well. Computer-enhanced imagery says she probably didnt alter the shape of her ears or her hands, and using objects in view that we know the measurements of-that planter there, or those decorative bricks-we can tell her shoe size, her height, we can come pretty close on her true weight if we extrapolate from wrists and neck diameter. The hair is probably a wig, so thats no help, but the images give us a good view of her wrists and hands, and the techs in the FBI Skin Lab tell us that shes not wearing makeup there, so shes probably a natural redhead, to judge from her skin tone.
They can tell that?
Its still more art than science, but they say they are about eighty-five-percent sure.
Hmm.
Theres a little more. Watch.
Jay played the recording. The woman took the travel kennel, turned and started away. An image from a different viewpoint appeared-must be another cam, Michaels reasoned. This was a higher angle, looking down at the woman coming head-on. As he watched, the woman carrying the kennel slipped on something.
See how the floor is wet? They had just mopped the exitway there, Jay said. Didnt put up the warning sign yet.
The next image showed the woman lurch to the left, put out her arm, stop herself with her free hand against the wall at shoulder height. She shoved off the wall and continued on her way.
Nice recovery, hey? Jay said. Me, Id probably have fallen on my butt, but she just hit that wall, pushed off like nothing, kept going, even carrying a dog. Didnt even slow her down. His grin was really big now.
Michaels made the connection. He looked at Jay. Prints?
Yep. How many people do you suppose slipped on the wet floor and fell against the wall at just that spot in the last month or two?
She left a palm print, a clean index, middle, and ring fingerprint and a smudged pinky.
Michaels nodded. This was a big deal. This might just save his ass.
Oh, and did I mention? We got a few cells and a little useable DNA?
Dammit, Jay-
Jay laughed. Well, I didnt want to get your hopes up, Boss. Its hardly anything to play with, a few stutters-just enough to know it is a woman, what her blood type is, thats all.
Jesus! Why didnt you say so to begin with?
Thats not how you tell a story, Boss. You save the best for the end. Anyway, we dont have a match from the FBI, NCIC, UPolNet or AsiaPol files on prints or DNA profiles yet. It takes a while to run them all, but even if we dont get her that way, shes probably on record somewhere-DL, BioMed, BankSeal, somewhere. If she is, sooner or later she is going to pop up with red flags and sirens screaming. Its just a matter of time.
This is outstanding work, Michaels said. You did good, Jay.
Nopraw.
Excuse me?
Just an expression, Boss. It means no problem. You gotta keep current, you know. And did I mention-she paid for the lost dog? Sent the money by courier again. We couldnt backtrack it this time, but that was nice of her, wasnt it?
Michaels was elated, but he tried not to let it overwhelm him. What about the other thing, the programmer?
Getting close to him. Hes a Russian, Ukrainian, something like that. I got Baby Huey-the SuperCray mainframe-winnowing possibilities, checking profiles.
I thought you said he could mask his profile.
Oh, yeah, he can, but only partially. I got enough of his style down, Ill know him when I see him. Its like a painter. Everybody knows a Picasso when they